Dick Vitale once called Duane Spencer "an aircraft carrier that didn't float". Had Georgetown been able to work with him at center, there's no telling how far both ships would have traveled.

The numbers remain impressive for Spencer in the years since his run at New Orleans Walter Cohen HS: 27 points, 14 rebounds and six assists per game, with career numbers of 1,452 rebounds, 476 blocks, and 475 assists. A two time Parade All-America selection, Spencer joined Othella Harrington as the highlights of Georgetown's 1992 recruiting class, the best in the nation for the third time in the past 10 years.

"Duane can play every position on the court, including [point guard]," said coach John Thompson in pre-season comments. "He's very mobile and handles the ball well." Thompson's thoughts, while accurate, ultimately did in the career of Spencer with the Hoyas. Spencer was a talented player but he wasn't meant to be a guard, and not even a forward. He was a center and needed to play the position, while Harrington was the prototypical NBA power forward of the 1990's. Instead, Harrington was moved inside and Spencer was asked to play more of a forward role, of which he which struggled.

Spencer started all 33 games his freshman year, averaging 8.7 points and 7.1 rebounds, with a season high 22 points and 14 rebounds versus Morgan State and a 20 point, 11 rebound game against Cal-Irvine. But his outside shooting hadn't caught up, and he shot just 38 percent from the field, 34 percent in Big East play.

Prior to the start of his sophomore season, Georgetown reported that Spencer had sprained his ankle, and junior Don Reid took over for him in the lineup. Spencer's time on the floor dropped from an average of 31 minutes a game in 1992-93 to just 14 minutes, and without a regular role in games his numbers tumbled in Big East play, averaging just 1.8 points a game.

Where John Thompson had been able to balance the talents and court time of Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo five years earlier, the Harrington-Spencer combo wasn't working. In May 1994, Georgetown announced Spencer was quitting basketball and leaving Georgetown to support his family in New Orleans.

"It is a great shame that his severe ankle injury limited his playing time this season and he wasn't able to display his basketball talent," said Thompson in a statement. "I support this young man putting his family responsibilities where they should be, ahead of other considerations, and hope that he continues to pursue his education."

If it was a polite exit, the story didn't last very long. Three weeks later, Spencer signed with LSU.

Over a two year period in Baton Rouge, Spencer rehabilitated his ankle, and in doing so, rehabilitated the kind of player he was capable of. A second team All-SEC selection in 1997, Spencer averaged 15 points and seven rebounds a game for the Tigers in 1996-97, shooting 48 percent from three point range (20 for 41) compared to a total of just three attempts over two years at Georgetown. Spencer finished his senior season in the top 10 in the SEC in ten different statistical categories.